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Well-known Bible scholar delivers convocation message

Dr. Ed Hindson, Distinguished Professor of Religion and Dean of the Institute for Biblical Studies at Liberty University, delivered the convocation message Wednesday in the Vines Center.

Hindson, a Gold Medallion Award Winner who has written more than 40 books, has lectured all over the country and the world and is considered one of the world’s most respected Bible scholars.

Hindson’s message, “Can We Still Believe in the Rapture?,” was on the Second Coming of Christ, a doctrinal distinctive at Liberty that says it will happen before the time of tribulation on Earth.

But no one knows the exact time, even though there is an array of literature and media that speculates, Hindson said.

“I’ve been in the ministry for 40 years. I’ve heard it all,” he said, giving examples through the decades when people had predicted the time of the Jesus’ return. “Jesus Himself said, ‘Nobody knows the time of my coming.’ … The point is that nobody knows the time, so don’t waste your time trying to guess the time, be ready all the time because Jesus can come anytime.”

After giving examples from Scripture that explain the rapture and Christ’s triumphal return, Hindson gave students 10 reasons for why Liberty is committed to a pre-tribulation rapture. They included knowing that the Church — the Bride of Christ — is not the object of divine wrath (so Christians aren’t meant to experience the tribulation period), and knowing that the rapture is imminent, instantaneous and unique.

He encouraged students to comfort one another with this truth in Scripture, all the while serving Christ and spreading the message of the Gospel.

“Just because we believe in the promise of the rapture, doesn’t mean that we’re irresponsible … that we’re just sitting around hoping to get bailed out someday,” he said. “… Live in anticipation of the fact that it could happen, keep serving the Lord in the meantime and try to make a difference in the world in which you live.”